January 15, 1865: The Fall of Fort Fisher-- Part 1: The Naval Brigade Attack

Taken from the Civil War Naval Chronology.

At 3 p.m. on the 15th the signal to cease firing was sent to the fleet, and the soldiers, sailors and Marines ashore charged the Confederate fortifications.  Because the Army advanced through a wooded area while the Naval Brigade dashed across a open beach, the he defenders opened a concentrated fire at point blank range on the naval attack, "ploughing lanes in the ranks."

Leading the assault, Lieutenant Samuel W. Preston, one of the war's ablest young naval officers, and Lieutenant Benjamin H. Porter, commanding officer of the flagship, USS Malvern, were among those killed.  (Porter was not related to Rear Admiral David D. Porter, commander of the fleet.

Unchecked, however, this assaulting force, under the command of Lieutenant Commander K. Randolph Breese pressed forward.

Ensign Robley D. Evans, later  to become a Rear Admiral with the well-earned sobriquet "Fighting Bob" -- suffered four wounds, two crippling his legs.

--Old B-Runner